Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
- Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
- The sum total of the damage done to the child before birth as a result of the mother drinking alcohol during pregnancy. FAS always involves brain damage, impaired growth, and head and face abnormalities. No amount of alcohol has been proven safe during pregnancy. Women who are or may become pregnant are advised to avoid alcohol. Fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the leading causes of mental retardation in the US. FAS is an irreversible, lifelong condition that affects every aspect of a child’s life and the lives of the child’s family. However, FAS is 100% preventable — if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant. If a pregnant woman drinks alcohol but her child does not have all the symptoms of FAS, it is possible that her child may be born with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disabilities (ARND). Children with ARND may demonstrate learning and behavioral problems caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. There is no safe amount of alcohol that a woman can drink while pregnant. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her fetus, because alcohol crosses the placenta freely. There is no safe dose of alcohol in pregnancy, and there does not appear to be a safe period during pregnancy for drinking. All drinks containing alcohol can hurt an unborn baby. A standard 12-ounce can of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a 4-ounce glass of wine or a 1-ounce shot of straight liquor. In addition, some alcoholic drinks, such as malt beverages, wine coolers, and mixed drinks often contain more alcohol than a 12-ounce can of beer. If a pregnant woman does drink, it is never too late for her to stop. The sooner a pregnant woman stops drinking, the better it will be for both her and her baby.
Medical dictionary.
2011.
Look at other dictionaries:
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) — Various congenital disorders in a newborn caused by heavy drinking of alcohol by the mother around conception or during pregnancy. The main symptoms are retarded growth, central nervous system abnormalities, and certain face and head… … Universalium
Fetal alcohol syndrome — (FAS) is a disorder of permanent birth defects that occurs in the offspring of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy. It is unknown whether amount, frequency or timing of alcohol consumption during pregnancy causes a difference in degree of… … Wikipedia
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) diagnosis — To establish the diagnosis of FAS, the following signs must be present: 1. Small size and weight before and after birth (pre and postnatal growth retardation); 2. Brain involvement with evidence for delay in development, intellectual impairment,… … Medical dictionary
fetal alcohol syndrome — n a highly variable group of birth defects including mental retardation, deficient growth, central nervous system dysfunction, and malformations of the skull and face that tend to occur in the offspring of women who consume large amounts of… … Medical dictionary
fetal alcohol syndrome — a variable cluster of birth defects that may include facial abnormalities, growth deficiency, mental retardation, and other impairments, caused by the mother s consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Abbr.: FAS [1975 80] * * * ▪ pathology… … Universalium
fetal alcohol syndrome — noun a congenital medical condition in which body deformation occurs or facial development or mental ability is impaired because the mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy • Syn: ↑FAS • Hypernyms: ↑syndrome * * * ˌfetal ˈalcohol syndrome 7 [fetal … Useful english dictionary
Baby, fetal alcohol syndrome — Alcohol is capable of causing birth defects. FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) always involves brain damage. and impaired growth. FAS also always involves head and face abnormalities. No amount of alcohol has been proven safe during pregnancy. Women… … Medical dictionary
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder — Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) describes a continuum of permanent birth defects caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, which includes, but is not limited to Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).Astley, S.J. (2004).… … Wikipedia
Fetal alcohol effects (FAE) — A softer diagnosis than fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The diagnosis of possible FAE is considered when: 1. The person has some signs of FAS; 2. The person does not meet all of the necessary criteria for FAS; and 3. There is a history of alcohol… … Medical dictionary
FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) — The sum total of the damage done to the child before birth as a result of the mother drinking alcohol during pregnancy. FAS always involves brain damage, impaired growth, and head and face abnormalities. No amount of alcohol has been proven safe… … Medical dictionary
